Building on a Good Thing

Lego has re-imagined itself over the years, maintaining its position as one of most popular toys of choice for children, over many generations. Kids have always used the brightly coloured bricks to build the things from their imaginations. But now, Lego has moved with the times and created a large assortment of video games which today's youth love to play. Creating a film was the next logical step in continuing to dominate the toy market.

The Lego Movie, which hit British cinemas on February 14th 2014, has proved to be a successful counterpart to the Dutch, world-famous brand. Many reviewers have already compared it to the likes of Toy Story. To repeat such observations would be uninspired on my behalf.  However, it is hard not to.

Throughout the film it doffs its builder's helmet to such films. These are toys coming to life, which are the things to childhood dreams. Who can honestly say they haven't given their toys voices, stories and personalities? I certainly cannot.

We follow Emmet (Chris Pratt), a construction worker from Bricksburg, as he finds himself exploring different worlds in the Lego universe. He teams up Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks), Batman (Will Arnett), and Vitruvius (Morgan Freeman), who battle to defeat Lord Businessman (Will Farrell) and his dogsbody Good Cop/Bad Cop (Liam Neeson), in their attempts to enforce conformity.

As well as the jaw-dropping brick landscape, and flawless stop-animation for the children, there are plenty of blink-and-miss-them satirical jokes for the adults. These range from small details of teeth-marks and cracks in the helmet of an 1980's space helmet, to figures flying by use of strings. It is these small details that bring the film into reality; the same one that Toy Story and Wreck-It Ralph reside it. Everyone can relate to it. Well, I certainly can anyway.

Lego was my toy of choice long into my teens, and this film has rekindled my love for the 'highly sophisticated interlocking brick system' at the age of 21. And not only for me, but for the thousands of adults who once again, want to fill their homes with boxes full of Lego. It's no wonder then that Warner Bros have already announced it will release the sequel May 26th 2017, and that The Simpsons are making an episode out of Lego.

P.S. To whet your taste buds, watch the adverts made out of Lego.